It’s so easy to let life run away with you. But when you can stop, take a deep breath and realize that you’re only human, things get easier.
Trying to keep up with my Computer Tech job and teaching myself coding and Web design is a challenge in and of itself. So when the opportunity arose for a second job as a Virtual Assistant for a client, I don’t know why I thought it would be easy to take that on too. (Insert laughter here)
Balancing work, schooling and the rest of my life is harder, but in the long run, I know I’ll learn so much valuable information that will be a major benefit in any capacity. Just taking those moments to breathe when I start feeling overwhelmed is so important though.
Keeping oxygen in my lungs, coffee in my cup, organizing my chaos, and a healthy sense of humor goes a long way to helping me get through my day. For those that know me, learning is my hobby. I love anything new I can get my hands on or research in any form! So when the term “Virtual Assistant”, or “VA”, was being thrown around in my first meeting with my second boss, I couldn’t resist digging in and seeing what it was all about!
Basically, a Virtual Assistant does the work of an assistant from a remote location. My new employer has a company he’s launching and wants to get involved with all the best ways to advertise. How is that done? Lots of research first, then learning what platforms (websites, social media, etc.) are the most efficient to get the word out. Between the basic running of the business and creating new content for podcasts and coaching, he has no time to update the website, Facebook or Twitter. That’s where the VA comes in. Since he’s starting out, I’m the main administrator for handling social media accounts, working on a little Web design and a lot of maintenance. The best part is that it’s completely remote! Even weekly wrap up meetings are done through video call and most correspondence is email.
It’s a blast to work in the evenings at home! I absolutely have no complaints and it suits my habits very well. Plus, the relaxed comfort of my own home has been much better for my productivity than in working in your standard office environment. 2am project ideas and tweaking is fairly common for me, the flexibility has been fantastic for being able to jump on those ideas while it’s fresh in my mind.
The risk of working from home though is distraction and not sticking to goals. Self-discipline is crucial. I do struggle with that on occasion, honestly. I mean, who isn’t tempted to watch the newest season of your favorite show on Netflix? I’m thankful my incessant drive for perfection and doing a good job is pretty persuasive, so I can usually kick my butt back into gear.
Though it seems like more than I can handle sometimes, overall, I’m loving the challenge! I’m also grateful for the chance to expand my knowledge, become proficient in what I’m doing, and helping someone out in the process. I’m excited to see where it goes for sure, and everything I learn here can be implemented in a career in Web design and development and used to help other clients down the road.
Sometimes the hardest things to do end up being the best thing for us!
thatgirlintheglasses 
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